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Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam is a major form of Indian classical dance that originated in the temples of Tamil Nadu.
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Do you hear that jingle-jangle sound? Those are special bells I wear on my ankles when I dance. Do you feel that thump-thump-thump? That is the sound of my feet tapping a happy beat on the floor. I can make my hands look like a blooming flower, a little deer, or a buzzing bee. I am a dance that tells stories without a single word. My name is Bharatanatyam.
I was born a very, very long time ago, more than two thousand years ago, in the warm, sunny temples of Southern India. A wise person named Bharata Muni wrote down all of my special steps and movements in a big book called the Natya Shastra so no one would ever forget them. I was created to tell amazing stories about brave heroes and kind gods to everyone who came to the temple. My dancers used their smiling faces, sparkling eyes, and graceful hands to share these tales.
For thousands of years, I have been dancing. I have danced in ancient temples and on big, bright stages all over the world. Today, children and grown-ups still learn my steps and wear my colorful costumes. When you watch me, you are seeing a story that has been dancing forever, connecting us all with joy and wonder. I am a story you can feel in your heart.
The Story of a Dancing Bell
Do you hear that jingle-jangle sound? Those are special bells I wear on my ankles when I dance. Do you feel that thump-thump-thump? That is the sound of my feet tapping a happy beat on the floor. I can make my hands look like a blooming flower, a little deer, or a buzzing bee. I am a dance that tells stories without a single word. My name is Bharatanatyam.
I was born a very, very long time ago, more than two thousand years ago, in the warm, sunny temples of Southern India. A wise person named Bharata Muni wrote down all of my special steps and movements in a big book called the Natya Shastra so no one would ever forget them. I was created to tell amazing stories about brave heroes and kind gods to everyone who came to the temple. My dancers used their smiling faces, sparkling eyes, and graceful hands to share these tales.
For thousands of years, I have been dancing. I have danced in ancient temples and on big, bright stages all over the world. Today, children and grown-ups still learn my steps and wear my colorful costumes. When you watch me, you are seeing a story that has been dancing forever, connecting us all with joy and wonder. I am a story you can feel in your heart.
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Bharatanatyam is a major form of Indian classical dance that originated in the temples of Tamil Nadu. It is known for its fixed upper torso, bent legs and knees, spectacular footwork, and a sophisticated vocabulary of sign language based on gestures of hands, eyes, and face muscles.
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